The Biblical Archaeology Society is now accepting applications for the 2012 Joseph Aviram Fellowship. The fellowship brings Israeli scholars to the United States to participate in the annual scholarly meetings of the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) and the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL), held in the same city every November. This year’s meetings are in Chicago. The fellowship’s stipend of $2,500 is intended to cover the cost of the winner’s travel expenses.

The fellowship honors Joseph Aviram on his retirement as director of the Israel Exploration Society (IES). Aviram, who, at age 94, remains president of the IES, has been associated with the society for more than 70 years and, as director, oversaw the publication of countless excavation reports, encyclopedias and journals on the archaeology of Israel. He also participated in important excavations and offers sage, conciliatory advice to generations of Israeli archaeologists.